Take time when thinking about a new career

Thinking about a new career? There may be some pain involved in taking the time to understand what really matters, because you may have taken some wrong turns along the way and have to backtrack or make some really big changes.

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"The world may or may not be your oyster, but it can certainly be your classroom." -- Maureen Anderson, The Career Clinic

Want to make a change?

Despite our economic difficulties - or perhaps because of them - this might be the best of times to look at changing one's life.

There are nearly as many ways to go about setting off on a new career path as there are people to write about it, but let's get some advice from several people in the know.

As author of the best-selling career guide, What Colour Is Your Parachute? Dick Bolles is an easy first choice for guidance. But his advice isn't about your education or level of motivation; it starts from someplace much simpler. "Use your gifts," Bolles advises. "They have a kind of energy, and if you don't let that out, you will go crazy."

Find expression for the things that matter, Bolles writes in Maureen Anderson's book, The Career Clinic, based on her syndicated U.S. radio show. Each of us, he argues, has talents of which we may be unaware which enable us to do certain things. One person, for example, might be a whiz at saving money, while another exhibits great listening skills.

Add to that the fact that we love using some of those skills, like a friend who is simply transported by painting or another who derives great pleasure in community work.

"You may have a gift that other people have," Bolles writes, "but you also have other gifts, and it's the way you string those gifts together, much like the beads on a necklace, that makes you the person you are."

The message here is to know yourself before you figure out where you fit in the world. This is a lesson from career consultant Dave Swanson, who used to think that finding a career means trying lots of things until one of them stuck. Over the years, he learned that career planning can't be rushed.

What you decide you want has got to really matter. Swanson often asks people to complete the sentence, "I have to ________," recalling the words of famed U.S. choreographer George Balanchine, who said that he doesn't hire people who want to dance; he hires people who have to dance.

Don't be in a hurry, Swanson advises, because career planning is one of those things worth doing slowly. So go into an interview fully briefed on the company and people you're meeting, and set yourself a high standard by dressing well, being on time, showing respect.

Prioritize your skills, he says.

"What is the No. 1 thing you have to do to be happy? You now have a target. It's much easier to hit a target if you have one."

Help find that target by using opportunities that come your way, writes Anderson, like internships, volunteer work or helping a friend whose work interests you.

Expanding your search for the job that will make you happy isn't the same as staying open to anything, which is the modus operandi of most college graduates.

"Let's say we're talking travel as opposed to career planning," Swanson writes. "You're lost, and someone offers to help. 'Where do you want to go?' he asks. And you say, "Anywhere is fine.' He'll probably just stare at you before walking away. But if you tell him where you want to go and point to that location on a map, he can help. He wants to help."

Granted, there may be some pain involved in taking the time to understand what really matters, because you may have taken some wrong turns along the way and have to backtrack or make some really big changes.

"You just have to ask yourself if you really do want to be happy," Swanson writes. "There isn't necessarily a recipe for that. You won't know the answers in advance. But where would the adventure be if you did?"

Thinking about a new career? There may be some pain involved in taking the time to understand what really matters, because you may have taken some wrong turns along the way and have to backtrack or make some really big changes.

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